Agricultural and Forestal District Program

What is the Agricultural and Forestal District Program?

Although A&F applications are processed through the
Zoning Evaluation Division in the Department of Planning and Zoning, they
are not zoning cases. A&F Districts are evaluated in two parts- the
land use portion of the application is processed through DPZ, and the
land use tax evaluation portion is processed through the Department of
Tax Administration (DTA). DPZ and DTA coordinate on the establishment and
regulation of these districts. For more information on DTA's role in the
process, please visit their website.

The A&F District Program allows landowners whose property meets size
requirements and A&F criteria to apply for a reduced land use tax
rate in exchange for agreeing not to develop their land to any further
intensity for the life of the district. The A&F designation does not
change the zoning of a property; is a land use value assessment
designation that is placed on the property so that a reduced tax rate can
apply.

When a district comes in either as a new district or a renewal, various
departments and agencies conduct a review. This includes site visits and
the development of forest management and/or soil and water conservation
plans. These plans become conditions that the applicant must abide by
concerning environmentally sensitive areas, forest management and soil
and water conservation plans, access to historical resources, and other
related items.

Once the staff reviews are complete, a staff report is written. The
report then goes to the A&F District Advisory Committee (AFDAC) for
review, and the Committee makes their recommendation to the Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors. The AFDAC is a committee appointed
by the Board of Supervisors that makes recommendations on the
establishment and renewal of A&F Districts. The AFDAC makes a
recommendation to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors;
the Planning Commission then makes a recommendation to the Board of
Supervisors. The Board then adopts or denies the proposed district.